A man with dark hair and a beard sits directly on the ground, facing forward, his hands resting on his knees and his legs bent in front of him. He wears a dark green garment trimmed with white lace at the collar and cuffs, and a vivid red cloak edged with gold drapes over his shoulders and arms. The figure's large, pale hands and feet are prominent against the muted tones of the floor and background, which are painted in soft, earthy browns.

There are no objects or furniture in the scene, and the background is a simple, shadowy space that places all attention on the sitter. Light falls from the left, illuminating the man's face, hands, and the folds of his cloak, while subtle shadows model his features and clothing. The brushwork is visible in the textured highlights of the cloak and the soft modeling of the face and hands, giving the surface a sense of immediacy and presence.

The composition is tightly focused, with the figure filling most of the canvas, seated low and centered, his feet almost touching the lower edge of the picture. The background transitions from a darker brown at the upper edges to a lighter ochre near the floor, creating a subtle gradient behind the figure. No secondary figures or objects are visible anywhere in the composition.

The lower left and right corners of the painting are occupied by the folds of the red cloak, which pool on the ground and show touches of yellow along the hem. The floor beneath the man is painted in a warm, beige tone and is slightly lighter than the wall behind him. The light source from the left casts a faint shadow of the figure onto the floor and wall to the right.

The red cloak displays loose, visible brushstrokes, especially along the gold trim and where it catches the light. The white lace at the collar and cuffs is painted with quick, textured dabs, giving it a feathery appearance. The outline of the figure is softly blended into the background, with no hard lines separating him from the shadowy space around him. Diego Velázquez painted this work in 1644, during his tenure as court painter.